Community briefs

14th Annual Bigfork Brewfest March 4

Bigfork Brewfest is back March 4 for their 14th year of serving cold Montana craft beer. Early bird ticket holders are allowed in the gates at 1 p.m., then general admission tickets at the door go on sale for $40.00. Tickets include a bracelet for brewers to identify you as an attendee, Bigfork Brewfest merchandise, two live bands block parties, local food trucks, access to all downtown businesses and all the winter fun you can handle. Block parties will feature The Bad Larrys on Electric Avenue and Tommy Edwards on Bridge Street. Come support local Montana breweries giving back BIG for the village of Bigfork, Montana because here it really takes a village. Festivities run from 1-5 p.m. Brewfest is sponsored by Bigfork Innovations Group Foundation.

Stone Hill Kitchen + Bar announces permanent closure

Stone Hill Kitchen + Bar in Bigfork has announced they are closing permanently. The announcement was made on their social media accounts, just weeks after their chef had been nominated for a James Beard Award.

Chef Earl James Reynolds is a semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Mountain Region. Stone Hill was founded by Andrew and Bonnie Matosich. They focused on high quality fine dining, sourcing ingredients from local farmers, fishers, foragers and more.

Lake County makes changes to Woods Bay Dump operations

Lake County Solid Waste will be making some changes at the Woods Bay Dump in the upcoming months. After a meeting on Monday, Director of Solid Waste for Lake County Stacey Kintigh said they will not be closing or privatizing the dump. Residents will be required to show a Lake County Solid Waste tag upon entering, which can be acquired by filling out a solid waste request for authorization form. The form can be found by Googling ‘Lake County Solid Waste request for authorization” or by emailing cslocum@lakemt.gov.

Starting in March, the dump will only be open three days a week. This will continue until staffing shortfalls are filled, then more days will open up. Hours of operation have not yet been determined. The Ferndale dump will be open on the days the Woods Bay site is closed.

In addition to these changes, officials say more recycling options will become available this year, including tires and appliances.

Placard requirements to use the Woods Bay dump begin in March. Once your form is submitted, the county will send two access cards. For more information, visit www.lakemt.gov/259/Solid-Waste.